Unearthing growing capabilities of indigenous wild edible mushrooms from Punjab, India

Abstract: Mushroom cultivation is a prevalent activity worldwide, although the domestication of native wild mushrooms is not fully recognised. For wild mushrooms to be economically feasible, they need to possess the ability to be cultivated. The objective of this study was to cultivate 18 wild mushrooms that were collected from their native environments utilising substrates that are readily available in the local area. Wild mushrooms were gathered and acquired using tissue cultures. All the wild mushrooms studied showed mycelial development on the substrates, except for Podaxis pistallris, Amanita solitaria, and Collybia platyphylla. Pleurotus sapidus and Pleurotus floridanus were able to produce fruit satisfactorily. The study revealed that specific wild mushrooms had the ability to produce fruiting bodies when grown on commercial substrates. While mushroom production was not seen in other natural cultures, these findings offer valuable information for improving growth circumstances in the future. Conducting surveys of natural habitats is crucial to guarantee the ongoing production of wild edible mushrooms, safeguarding endangered species and promoting a hopeful outlook for their sustainable utilisation.